UK, northern European nations support Ukraine 30-day ceasefire: Norway PM

OSLO - Norway's prime minister on Friday said a group of northern European nations and the UK supported a US proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

"We need a ceasefire, an unconditional ceasefire, first," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) coalition in Oslo.

"That needs to be monitored and respected before you can move into the negotiations on the big issues to reach a lasting peace," he added.

The JEF comprises 10 countries -- Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK -- and was set up to rapidly respond to crises.

Store said that during a dinner on Thursday with leaders from the coalition member countries they had contact with both US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the proposal.

"We also stress the need for accountability of such a ceasefire, and if it's not respected, there should be sanctions imposed," Store said.

Trump on Thursday called for "a 30-day unconditional ceasefire" on his Truth Social network after speaking to Zelensky.

Trump said that "both countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations" to halt the conflict, which started when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

"This is a concerted approach that is now being sent by the US, by the Europeans and by Ukraine," Store said.

As reported, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) is participating in the JEF leaders summit in Oslo, LETA was informed by Silina's communications advisor Anna Udre.

The working visit will include meetings with leaders of Norway and other JEF coalition countries to discuss regional security and cooperation in strengthening defense capabilities and deterrence.

The JEF is a military cooperation initiative of ten like-minded countries, led by the UK. The coalition aims to strengthen the security of the region by jointly preparing for different crisis situations.